According to David L. Bender "the bigger a gang gets the more violent and evil it becomes". (Youth Violence). David L. Bender believes that there are distinct differences between large and small gangs. The biggest distinction is between the weapons used by small and large gangs to commit criminal behavior , including juvenile homicide. He stated that small gangs are primarily known to use knives, chains, clubs, and homemade zip guns. Large gangs are known for their organized arsenals, which include sophisticated assault rifles, submachine guns, antitank weapons, and high powered explosives. David L. Bender concluded that bigger gangs cause a greater catastrophic number of criminal acts, including juvenile homicide. David L Bender also stated that these weapons are involved in many criminal s

Albert K. Cohen also believed that teens from broken homes and from families with broken down values are at higher risk for joining a gang. Many times, parents are working so extensively that they are not aware of their teen's daily activities. Also, teens with parents who work frequently join a gang because it provides a structure that they do not have in their own home. Teens raised in single-parent homes are also more prone to join a gang. Many times, children from single parent homes are raised by their mothers, and unfortunately many do not receive the proper male role model. Without the proper male role model, these teens look toward their gang members for this very support.

Most importantly, Ewing believes the reason gangs have grown to become violent and more potentially dangerous is due to the easy accessibility of these dangerous weapons. Today gang members are purchasing guns inexpensively. There are cases where guns are being rented for the night. Due to the increasing availability of these weapons, gun violence is used to settle gang disputes. (Kids Who Kill).

While weapons such as guns causes the physical injury and death that lead to an alarming rate of juvenile homicide, drugs remain one of the crucial underlying causes for these criminal actions. "Much of the fuel for the growth in gangs and street violence come from the drug trade." (Charles Patrick Ewing). Drugs are both sold and used by gang members. Ewing stated that sometimes even if the effects of drugs do not cause people to commit violent acts, the need for money to buy the drugs often does. When the need for drugs is overcome by their addiction, they are willing to commit acts of violence against others to achieve their means of obtaining the drugs.

Charles Patrick Ewing also agrees that guns are a major factor in juvenile homicide. He stated that "the easy accessibility of guns and the willingness of young people to use them without hesitation is another one of the causes of juvenile violence." (Kids Who Kill). He stated that many of the gang members are willing to kill at all costs, sometimes even for ridiculous reasons. Ewing believed that gang members have to defend the honor of their gang and protect each other from injustice and protect their pride.

In certain acts of juvenile crime, guns are used in drive-by shootings to shoot a member from another rival gang. Many times, these carele

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Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)